City wins Stats SA award

The City of Cape Town has been recognised at the Statistics South Africa Awards for Excellence.

The City was nominated in the Top Municipalities section in two categories: Dissemination and Economic and Financial Statistics, and was the overall winner in the “Dissemination” category.

This award is made to individuals, stakeholders and organisations that have found innovative methods of packaging statistical information in an easily understandable and accessible way.
The award was made at a presentation dinner in Boksburg on 23 November 2009. Pieter Cronjé, Director: Communication, received the award on behalf of the City from Statistician-General Pali Lehohla and Chairman of the Statistics Council, Howard Gabriels. The award followed a submission made by the City’s Strategic Development Information & GIS Department (Strategy & Planning Directorate) to recognise the various information products developed by the department using statistical data. These can be accessed from the City’s internet site by clicking here (link to City statistics).

“The award reflects the City of Cape Town’s recognition of the importance of valid and quality information in the urban development process and its role in supporting the achievement of the City’s strategic and Integrated Development Plan objectives and service delivery programmes,” said Piet van Zyl: Executive Director of Strategy and Planning.

The award is an engraved cut glass disc on a pedestal, framed certificate and a scroll.

The City was also second runner-up in the “Financial Census of Municipalities” category. This is the first time the awards have been made. Statistics South Africa plans to make the awards an annual event, recognising those who have contributed to the collection, compilation and dissemination of quality statistics.

“There were thousands of entries in the different categories ranging from schools and NGOs to large companies such as Sasol and municipalities. Stats SA is trying to promote the use of credible data and surveys in decision-making, planning and managing resources,” said Cronjé.